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England v Pakistan | 4th Test | The Oval | Aug 11-15, 2016 | Day 2

Which is why Hafeez should be dropped and Khurram shouldn't play tests. We invested a lot in Shehzad but he failed us. No need to go back to him.

But I think Misbah wants Azhar at #3 and this is just a makeshift decision, so we might need another opener for our next match.
 
Asad needs to score more than a good looking 70-80 or 90 if PAkistan are to eke out a decent lead
 
Then do you know why Misbah has played Azhar at #3 for so long. There has got to be a reason for that.

Misbah is very orthodox. He won't bat himself at 4 or 3 either because he has batted at 5 his whole life. But Mickey sees this that's why he pushed for Azhar's promotion and Hafeez's axe.
 
Asad needs to score more than a good looking 70-80 or 90 if PAkistan are to eke out a decent lead

The problem with Shafiq is that he does not seem to have the temperament to go on and score big. Might get a 100 but not much more. Would love to be proven wrong but I've been him give his wicket away cheaply so many timings after reaching that 100.
 
Bad luck for MoHa - I do believe that he would have enjoyed Oval.

But, that's what happens when finally you meet your nemesis. With his technique, foot work (or lack of it) & temperment; ideally he should have accepted No. 6 spot; which perfectly suited his role of batting all-rounder as well. But, he managed to keep opening & his team supported him as well, until it became too late. At this age, it's difficult for him to make a come back, after such disastrous series & with his bowling ban.

True. As much as I hate to say but it's true that Hafeez is a proper strokemaker which are rare in Pakistan these days. Everyone dislikes him but he plays some crispy shots.

A wise coach or captain would already have put him in the middle order.
 
But I think Misbah wants Azhar at #3 and this is just a makeshift decision, so we might need another opener for our next match.
I don't see Azhar going back to 3. He has done well and Mickey and Inzi see that. Misbah can go suck on a lollipop but there is no room for passengers on the team.
 
Younis' more attacking approach today has done him good. Is looking to score runs rather than survive.
 
What the hell kind of running behind the ball was this Finn ??
 
Need to rectify what we did incorrect at Edgbaston in this Test.
 
True. As much as I hate to say but it's true that Hafeez is a proper strokemaker which are rare in Pakistan these days. Everyone dislikes him but he plays some crispy shots.

A wise coach or captain would already have put him in the middle order.

I think, Coaches have tried to play him in middle order. It started with Bob, who played him at 6 in 2005-06 WSC. Then, Whatmore also tried him at 3 & 4 (in the Indian Series, he batted at 4 in T20). I believe, it was his interest to bat in top 3, particularly as opener.
 
The problem with Shafiq is that he does not seem to have the temperament to go on and score big. Might get a 100 but not much more. Would love to be proven wrong but I've been him give his wicket away cheaply so many timings after reaching that 100.

True, not only after reaching he gets out a lot in 30-100 region too. Gets a bit complacent
 
I think, Coaches have tried to play him in middle order. It started with Bob, who played him at 6 in 2005-06 WSC. Then, Whatmore also tried him at 3 & 4 (in the Indian Series, he batted at 4 in T20). I believe, it was his interest to bat in top 3, particularly as opener.

That's what I meant. A coach should clearly tell him what is expected from him. If he has issues with it then he should quit.

It will remain a tragedy how he has been wasted or wasted himself for all these years. Very similar to the Akmal story with the difference being that Hafeez is a good boy.
 
Lets hope this is the return to form for YK with some big runsm both these guys should be looking to bat the rest of today!
 
Testing time for Shafiq if he crosses this he will get his 100.
 
I think, Coaches have tried to play him in middle order. It started with Bob, who played him at 6 in 2005-06 WSC. Then, Whatmore also tried him at 3 & 4 (in the Indian Series, he batted at 4 in T20). I believe, it was his interest to bat in top 3, particularly as opener.
I don't know if this is true but tbh think hafeez is happy to bat anywhere. I dont want him to bat 6 in tests as we have a lot of middle order talent even if I suspect he will perform better. In terms of openers though we don't have much. Now that Sami and Azhar look good i support him being out of the team. I wouldn't want him at 6. Question is more is our best emerging batting talent at 6? I'm ready to give iftikhar a chance but a bit unsure when you have guys like Babar, fawad , umar akmal, Haris sohail etc around. I imagine a coach would think similar, is it worth playing hafeez at 6 for the sake of the future?
 
Good from Dada Younus

PAkistan's session

Need another convincing session to get hold of the game
 
Good first 2 sessions for Pakistan if we have another one today we are right back in the game.
 
Score another 100 in the last session for the loss of one wicket and then we will be golden in this test..
 
Another good session with us only lossing 1 wicket, last session will be crucial with england getting the new ball late on.
 
Score another 100 in the last session for the loss of one wicket and then we will be golden in this test..

If we dont loose any wicket in last session we will surely post more than 100 runs here.
 
I don't know if this is true but tbh think hafeez is happy to bat anywhere. I dont want him to bat 6 in tests as we have a lot of middle order talent even if I suspect he will perform better. In terms of openers though we don't have much. Now that Sami and Azhar look good i support him being out of the team. I wouldn't want him at 6. Question is more is our best emerging batting talent at 6? I'm ready to give iftikhar a chance but a bit unsure when you have guys like Babar, fawad , umar akmal, Haris sohail etc around. I imagine a coach would think similar, is it worth playing hafeez at 6 for the sake of the future?

I think outside Asia, we'll promote Sarfraz to 6 and a seam bowling all-rounder like Yamin will come in at 7.

Inside Asia, we can get away with 4 bowlers as we usually play 2 spinners - so you can play 6 specialist batsman. That means a young batsman like Babar can be groomed for 6.
 
The last session will be very very crucial. New ball is 23 overs away , need to score at least 80 before that without losing any wicket.
 
Pakistan really needs to brace themselves for a very HOSTILE spell from Ramiz Raja in the next session .. could really break the game I feel!!
 
I think outside Asia, we'll promote Sarfraz to 6 and a seam bowling all-rounder like Yamin will come in at 7.

Inside Asia, we can get away with 4 bowlers as we usually play 2 spinners - so you can play 6 specialist batsman. That means a young batsman like Babar can be groomed for 6.
Can't do this then an unfortunate batsman will find himself dropped every time we play out of Asia. He'll never learn to play there. 3 fast bowlers are enough really most teams cope with this. If we really need 4 fast bowlers play them and leave the spinner and have the part time spinners do the job. Yasmin too coming at 7 would weaken our batting even further. Would rather have proper batsmen from 1-7. And sarfraz is doing good at 7.
 
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